Thursday, May 19, 2016

5 Reasons to get Mouth Guards for Sports

May is National Physical Fitness & Sports Month, and with warmer weather and longer days, it’s a perfect time to get out and exercise. While exercise is great for your mind and body, it can be harmful to your teeth without the right protection.
Here’s why your mouth guard shouldn’t be forgotten:
  1. The American Dental Association estimates that about one third of all dental injuries are sports-related.
  2. Using a mouth guard is proven to reduce the risk of sport-related dental injuries, preventing over 200,000 of them every year.
  3. Mouth guards protect against the following types of injuries: chipping or breaking teeth, damaging dental work like crowns or bridgework, injuring lips or cheeks, and fracturing the jaw.
  4. Any athlete playing a sport should wear a mouth guard, but you should be especially vigilant when playing contact sports like football, hockey, or boxing. You should also wear a mouth guard when playing a sport where another athlete or ball could hit you in the face, like basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, or wrestling.
  5. There are a few different types of mouth guards available, but getting one custom-made by your dentist will provide the most comfort and protection.
Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD, West Hartford dentist, and New Britain dentist, can make you a custom mouth guard to protect your smile and keep it looking great.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Why I Am Proud To Be A “Very Small” Practice

An article in this month’s Journal of the American Dental Association says the number of dentists in “very small” practices is down 9% over the last 20 years, with that 9% being evenly distributed between dental practices deemed “small” “medium” and “large.” 

As a patient, one might ask:  Is bigger better? Should I be a patient of a larger group? The truth is that bigger might seem better at first glance. But look deeper by reviewing all the advantages and disadvantages.

Certainly, a bigger practice has more dentists, and other staff.  That means more available appointment times, and more physical locations.  For the owners of the practice, it probably also means more money, as there is a profit margin on the work of every employee.

Despite this attraction for dentists like me, I will always be in a “very small” practice, and here’s why:

1.   Bigger doesn’t always mean more efficient. One of the primary selling points for large dental groups is that they create greater efficiencies. But bigger sometimes simply means more administrative overhead, more time spent in meetings, more office politics, and less time devoted to actual patient care.  It also means you might not get the same dentist or hygienist twice, and of course, some employees are better than others, and some care more than others.  It’s random.

2.  Not all dentists will share the group’s philosophy. One of the biggest complaints many doctors have after joining larger systems is that they lose control over what they believe is the best way to care for patients. Even something as basic as specialist referrals may no longer be at the doctor’s sole discretion. In many large groups, referrals aren’t made to the best provider in the area.  Instead, referrals must be made within the group or a designated network of one-hand-washing-the-other providers.  This is not in the best interest of the patient.

3.  There may be more pressure on the dentist.  Many dentists, especially those in solo practice, are simply tired of uncertainty and having to work harder just to stay afloat.  Often, joining a large system seems like a way to get off this proverbial treadmill and have more time for family and other interests. Large groups do have administrators and support staff who run some of the business aspects of the practice.  However, there are often new administrative demands placed on dentists in large groups—profit, profit, profit.  And, regardless of size, all groups face demands to increase productivity, in part because salary and bonuses (and perhaps penalties) are tied directly to productivity.

4.   The closeness of attention is simply lost.  You know that gingival pocket I might be watching?  Or the beginning of a small cavity I've been tracking?  Or your daughter's wedding that we've been getting you ready for?  In a large practice, you might not get a dentist for your appointment who had time to read the note—or if they did, could accurately compare the condition with what you presented on your last visit.

In fact, while it isn’t an exact correlation, recently Cornell University did a study of small versus large group medical practices, and found that patient care was much better in small practices, with an astounding 33% fewer preventable hospital admissions!  I remember when I was first married, my husband and I had a large HMO for our medical coverage.  Every time we had to go to the doctor, we had to educate them on the history of the reason of the visit, because every time we had a different doctor treating us.  And rarely did we think we had one who cared, or was very good. 

I will never have that kind of practice, and I will never be in that kind of practice.  I want my patients to know everyone in my practice, and I want everyone in my practice to know my patients. 

And because of that, my promise to you is I will always be “very small”—the best kind.


Thursday, May 5, 2016

Top 10 Reasons for Tooth Pain



Tooth pain can range from mild and fleeting to throbbing and constant but the mechanism behind what you’re feeling is often the same: the nerves in the pulp chamber at the center of your affected tooth or teeth are responding to stimuli and sending out a warning in the form of a disagreeable sensation that something’s not right. West Hartford dentist, Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD lists the top 10 reasons your teeth might be causing you discomfort:
  1. Dental Caries (Cavities). Certain oral bacteria feed on food particles trapped in your mouth and produce acid that over time can eat through the protective tooth enamel into the sensitive dentin below.  Even a small cavity should be filled as untreated cavities pose a significant threat to the integrity of the tooth.
  2. Enamel Erosion. Acids in your diet and gastric acids from acid reflux (GERD) and vomiting can wear away tooth enamel.  This can add to tooth sensitivity and cause pain.
  3. Gum Recession. Gums can recede over time, exposing the sensitive tooth roots. Brushing too vigorously and/or using a toothbrush that’s too hard can contribute to gum recession.
  4. Recent Dental Work. Dental work can inflame pulp tissues and cause temporary sensitivity that should subside as the pulp heals.
  5. Loose, Old, or Lost Filling. Fillings seal off areas of past decay. If they don’t fit right or are dislodged, air, food particles and bacteria can infiltrate and irritate exposed nerve endings.
  6. Chip, Crack or Fracture. Teeth may be weakened over time due to pressure caused by biting and chewing as well as teeth grinding (bruxism) and jaw clenching. What starts as thin lines in the enamel can evolve into chips, cracks and fractures that expose nerve endings.
  7. Periodontal Disease. This is an infection of the tissues that support the teeth caused by a buildup of bacterial biofilm (plaque) along the gum line that triggers inflammation. In severe cases, the infection can travel to the end of a tooth root or through accessory canals and gain entrance into the dental pulp.
  8. Abscess. An abscess is a pus-filled sac caused by an infection. It can occur at the base of the tooth root or in the space between the tooth and gum.
  9. Tooth Grinding (bruxism)/Jaw Clenching. Referred to as parafunctional habits, these behaviors exert extreme stress on teeth and wear them down, causing increased tooth sensitivity and jaw soreness.
  10. Referred Pain. Sometimes pain originating in another tooth or outside the dental area — sinus congestion or infection for example — may radiate around the mouth and give the impression of pain for a specific tooth.

As you can see, pain is a warning of all sorts of threats to your oral health. West Hartford dentist Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD can help you identify the cause and appropriate treatment so you can feel better and protect your smile, including:
  •     Professional cleanings
  •     Dental sealants
  •          Composite (tooth-colored) fillings
  •     Night guards
  •     Bonding, and
  •     Periodontal treatment.